Since the beginning of February 2010, Shereen and Bashir, two members of EJE, have started a new training session on rule games to a group of around 20 teachers of El Ekha school in Bethlehem.
During the first session, the teachers started by playing with games provided by EJE (for instance Abalon, Blokus, etc.). It was the best way for them to realize what it really means to play.
Then we asked them to analyse what happened during the games, to describe what is “playing” according to them and what should be the main constraints that should apply to the games. It triggered a very useful discussion during which they were able to realize all the benefits of such activities for the children.
During the evaluation, the teachers stressed that it was the first time that they had the opportunity to have such a training. They enjoyed to play while learning. From their point of view, the games were very entertaining and would be very useful to have with the children.
On the training itself, they were very surprised by the method, as it was very participative. Instead of having one expert telling them what to do, they were encouraged to take the lead and come up by themselves with the relevant methods to use with the children, with the help of EJE specialists. One participant said: “I want to play with all the games. I felt like a kid once again.” Even some of them said that it was the first time for them to play since their childhood.
At the end they required to have training with more games and they started to put a plan for next year to fully incorporate activities with games in daily activities.
EJE ordered more than 30 games for them. The teachers will have two additional sessions.
This month EJE also provides another training in Ghiras center in Bethlehem. These sessions are part of a whole training programme undertaken by EJE with different centers and organisations. One of the objectives is to make the professionals working with children, as well as the general public, aware of the benefits of playing with such games, and to encourage them to use games in daily activities with children.
